Easy painting tips
Personalizing a child's room on a budget
My son was four years old when we moved into our new house. He was used to his old room and he had only just adapted to sleeping by himself. This new room in a strange house was very intimidating. He had a hard time sleeping in it until I painted a room full of dinosaurs for him.

You don't have to be an artist to create a comfortable and familiar place for your child to feel at home. Here's a few tips that can create that space that they'll want to be in.

1. Have them help choose the paint color. I realize that your daughter may go for Pepto Bismol pink, but with a little coercion, you can direct her toward the lightest pink on the swatch stick and she'd still be happy.
A great way to choose colors is to find them in her favorite comforter.
2. Don't be afraid to paint a stripe or two in bright colors to add some interest. It's easier than you think and if you check this blog there are some great tips on how to paint a straight line. Even some polka dots in different sizes are totally easy and way fun. An even better idea is to take simple elements from that comforter and mimic them on the wall on a large scale like these flowers.
3. Go to a thrift store and find a side table, dresser, or even headboard and give it a good paint job. You'd be surprised how an old, seemingly ugly piece can be transformed.
4. Get frames half of at the craft store (ours seems to always have a sale) and put your child's artwork in it.
5. Again, go to the craft store and buy your child's name in wood letters. Spray paint them, put some stickers on them, or leave them plain. Have them help you paint and hang them and they'll love it.

The great thing about paint is that it's cheap. Don't be afraid to put those colors on the wall. Who cares if it doesn't go with the rest of the house.

The color GREEN

It's no secret that we are living in an era where society has become aware of the effects of our actions on our planet. We are recycling more than ever, our government is looking into alternative energy, and the hybrid car is becoming more and more attractive! (arguable, I'm sure)

With all of this GREEN consciousness, it is now possible to be GREEN and attractive on your walls as well. Paint companies are recognizing that people would like to breath better air and save the ozone. Many companies today are developing and selling new lines of low VOC paints and finish products. What is a VOC? -you ask. Volatile Organic Compounds are chemicals in paints that emit harmful gases into the air. Back in the day, oil-based paints were used for everything. They were durable and easy to work with, but the odor was horrendous! You don't even want to know what those chemicals can do to your body.
Water based paints and latex paints have been around for a long time and it's almost impossible to find an oil-based paint anymore. Even some water based paints are fairly high in VOC's. The glossier the finish, the higher the VOC content. This is because the glossy finishes have more bonding agents in them and therefore more of the chemicals that release those gases.

I've just returned from taking a fabulous class that was all about low VOC decorative textures and paints. I am now a Preferred Provider for the new Shizen line of finishes by Modern Masters paints. These are products that not only are low VOC, but use recycled or renewable materials to boot!
The Koruku finish for example is made from bark from the cork oak tree. The bark is harvested and the tree grows it back. This is not your '70's cork tiles, it's a fabulous organic looking finish that can be done in any configuration imaginable. It has the ability to control humidity and is an excellent thermal insulator. This example is two colors of Koruku done in a fabulous cherry blossom stencil.

Another texture that is part of this line is called Kai, which means "seashell". This amazing texture is made from soil, sand, stone and ground sea shells reclaimed from the food industry. It has a fabulous sheen to it with little sparkles all over, it's subtle and beautiful all at once. The most amazing thing about this product is that not only is it low in VOC's, but it has the ability to absorb or dissolve other VOC's that may be lurking in the air in your home!

These are only a few of the products in this line. There are other finishes as well that are already low in VOC's. A Venetian Plaster is very low as is my favorite metallic plaster. Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore both make base paints that are not only low VOC, but highly durable and fabulous to work with.

If you are interested in seeing some exciting innovations in GREEN wall finishes please come and visit my booth at hgcDIRECT the weekend of March 6-8 for the GREEN Expo.